477 Senator
Bishop: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans’
Affairs—

(1) Further
to questions on notice nos 447 and 464, on how many occasions since
August 2004 has Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Beck, Director of the Office
of Australian War Graves (OAWG), visited Turkey.

(2) For
each of AVM Beck’s visits: (a) what was the itinerary of each visit;
(b) what was the cost of each visit; (c) what meetings did he have with
Turkish officials; and (d) on each occasion, with whom did he speak.

(3) When
was AVM Beck first provided with information from Turkish officials
concerning road works at Gallipoli.

(4) Can
the Minister confirm if AVM Beck consulted with the Outer Area Office
of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in Maidenhead, United
Kingdom, or the out station at Canakkale, Turkey.

(5) What, if any, consultation was
there with tour operators in Australia, Istanbul or Canakkale.

(6) Can
the Minister confirm that the planning procedures for these road works
were the same as those for the construction of the Peace Park; if not,
why not.

(7) When
was AVM Beck first provided with prepared options and draft plans, either
as impressions or as formal drawings.

(8) How
many options were provided, and what, if any, feedback was given.

(9) Did
the options include stopping the road works short of Anzac Cove, or
an alternative route to landward; if so, why were they not pursued.

(10) Can
the Minister confirm precisely which sections of the road were subject
to these consultations.

(11) What
information, by way of drawings, photographs, or graphic images were
provided by AVM Beck for Turkish consideration.

(12) Currently,
what is the width of each section of the road, and what is the width
of each new section.

(13) (a) Have
other officers visited Turkey to assist AVM Beck, if so who; and (b) what
has been the total cost of their travel.

(14) Has
OAWG established an office at Canakkale; if so: (a) what was the cost;
(b) for how long; and (c) by whom was it staffed.

(15) (a) What
technical advice has been sought from consultants in connection with
the road plans; (b) for what purpose; (c) from whom was the information
sought; and (d) what was the cost.

(16) What
expressions of concern were made by AVM Beck to Turkish officials on
the extent of the earth works and the disfigurement of the cliff face.

(17) (a) What
measures were considered to prevent erosion; and (b) what volume of material
is planned to be placed in the sea or on the beach.

(18) Did
the plans provide for environmental regeneration and protection.

(19) Did
Australia provide technical advice on any part of the construction including
drainage, erosion protection, traffic management, replanting or visitor
control and if so, who provided that advice.

(20) (a) Apart
from the road construction, what other broader planning was undertaken
prior to this project to examine the effect of tourism on the whole
Gallipoli site; (b) what strategic planning has been undertaken; and
(c) what input has been provided by the Government.

(21) Over
the past 5 years: (a) what consultancy or expert advice has been sought
with respect to the preservation of heritage values on the entire Gallipoli
site; (b) what are the details of each consultancy or advice; and (c) what
are the costs.

(22) At
any stage, did AVM Beck object to the scope of the Turkish plans and
were those concerns conveyed to the Minister; if so: (a) when and in
what form was that concern expressed to the Minister; and (b) what was
the Minister’s response.

(23) (a) Did
AVM Beck object to the Turkish plans; (b) was a request made for amendments,
or for work to be suspended; if so: (i) when were these requests made,
and (ii) what were the responses.

(24) Can the Minister confirm the
number of occasions, and the dates, of these discussions held with the
Embassy of Turkey in Canberra on this project, and which departments
were represented.

(25) Did
the Minister and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade receive
representations from the Government of Turkey in Canberra or Ankara,
on the detailed planning for this project; if so, can this information
be provided.

(26) In
each of the options considered; (a) what variations were there with respect
to parking at all sites; (b) which of the variations were requested by
Australia; (c) which of the variations were objected to by Australia;
and (d) what was the outcome.

(27) As
part of the works now under way, what parking capacity is being provided
for buses and cars, and at what sites.

(28) How
many cubic metres of soil are being removed from the sites, and how
is it being disposed of.

(29) On
how many occasions has AVM Beck briefed the Minister since August 2004.

(30) Has
the Department of Environment and Heritage been consulted, at any stage,
on any options; if so, what was its response.

(31) Was
the Australian War Memorial (AWM) involved in any of the planning process,
and in particular, what advice was sought and provided on likely burial
sites of those missing from 1915 in the areas affected by the roads.

(32) What
information was provided by the CWGC on the likely burial sites of missing
Australians, and what were the terms of that advice.

(33) What
other capital works were subject to consultations by AVM Beck, for which
facilities, and where.

(34) Did
Australia offer any capital support for any of the works discussed;
if so, what was the cost and what were the purposes.

(35) With
reference to the entertainment to be provided during the ANZAC Day period
at Gallipoli 2005, which entertainers other than Mr John Farnham were
considered or contacted, and were Mr Guy Sebastian and Ms Casey Chambers
included on those lists.

(36) (a) Who
contacted Mr John Farnham; (b) over what period did discussions continue
on his engagement; (c) what were the terms of the proposed engagement;
and (d) what was the estimated cost of his services.

(37) (a) On
whose direction was the proposal for Mr John Farnham’s engagement
cancelled; (b) did this direction require cancellation of any agreement
or contract; if so: (i) was there a cancellation fee, and (ii) what was
the cost of that cancellation fee.

(38) (a) What
process was instituted to select the contractors providing the sound
and light show; (b) was it an open or selective tender process; and (c) why
were Australian providers not considered and selected.

(39) How
many ministerial representations have been received by the Minister
to 30 March 2005 on the matter of entertainment at Gallipoli and the
road works.

(40) What
is the cost of the contract for the sound and light show, and what is
the name of the contractor(s) selected.

(41) How
was the string quartet selected, who are they, and what is the cost.

(42) How many Australian Defence Force
(ADF) personnel will be in attendance from Australia and other locations,
and at what cost.

(43) How
many persons in the following categories will be in attendance: (a) officials
from Australia (b) officials from Turkey; (c) elected representatives;
and (d) members of royalty.

(44) How
many will be in the official party, and of those, how many will be funded
by Australia and at what cost.

(45) How
many veterans have been included in the official party, who are they,
and what is the cost of their travel.

(46) How
many officials with security responsibilities will be in attendance
from Australia, and from which agencies.